Psalm 66:6:

 He turned the sea into dry land,
  they passed through the waters on foot—
    come, let us rejoice in him.

To rejoice is to be glad. 

To be glad is to be pleased and/or delighted.

Delight is joy. 

What makes you glad? 

What makes you smile?

What do you run towards?

What brings laughter? excitement? exclamation!? 

Today my boss's 4 year old son came to visit him at work. Now first of all, this is the cutest little boy you can imagine. Now, when he approached the front glass door and caught glimpse of his dad standing behind the counter, this little boy struggled to open the oh-so-heavy door with his oh-so-little 4 year old strength and he rushed straight to his dad with the most excitement I've seen in I don't know how long, as he shouted/screamed with all happiness, "DADDY!!!!!!!!" His father was just in time to meet him half way. This followed with a huge hug and an enamored kind of respect and love for who his dad is. His dad didn't do anything, exactly, in that moment to promote this incredibly focused attention. He was just being who he is and when his son caught a glimpse, he rushed into his daddy's presence, and gave him all the attention he could give, so much adoration and all the honor he knows. 

Will he obey his dad tonight when he's asked to go to sleep or take a bath?

I don't know.

Will he stop crying or whining when his dad asks him to stop?

Will he respond well to discipline?

Who knows. I'm gonna say, probably not every time, unless he is different from any other 4 year old I've ever known. 

But guess what, 

in that moment of rejoicing...

It doesn't matter about the mistakes past or to come. 

His dad loves being loved on.

And loving him back! 

As we are created in God's image it parallels in my mind, my Heavenly Father- GOD loves when I run to Him, with all the love I have to give...because He is who He is- Faithful. Truth. Great Present and Active God who Lavishes His Love On Me. And I can not complain ...I've got to run into his arms and love him.

Grace